Short Wave

This episode explores the psychology behind why people dread small talk, featuring scientific studies and discussions on its social value.

Rachel Carlson hosts Short Wave and focuses on brain-machine interfaces with Paul Niyajukian, a Stanford University medical doctor, engineer, and neuroscientist.

This episode explores the historical exclusion of women from medical trials, starting with the 1977 FDA policy that barred women of childbearing potential after the thalidomide scandal, and examines whether gender disparities in research persist today.

This episode discusses common misconceptions about bowel habits, featuring gastroenterologist Dr.

Environmental journalist Beth Gardner discusses how fossil fuel companies are increasing plastic production to maintain revenue as clean energy grows, exploring plastic's history, climate connections, and potential solutions.

This episode uses a Star Trek episode to explore how theoretical physics deals with figurative language and communication.

Entomologist Sammy Ramsey, producer of the National Geographic docuseries Secrets of the Bees, joins Short Wave host Emily Kwong to discuss what the show reveals about bee intelligence, behavior, and threats.

This episode explains the current helium shortage, its causes, and the element's importance in various technologies.

This episode is a biweekly science news roundup discussing stories about people who never get the flu, the benefits of less vigorous exercise, and the effects of food fortification.

This episode discusses NASA's upcoming Artemis II mission, which aims to send astronauts around the moon for the first time in over 50 years, exploring its purpose as a test mission and implications for future lunar exploration.

Host Emily Kwong and intern Aru Nair discuss the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.

Hosts and guests discuss recent astrophysics news and space discoveries in a new segment called Spacing Out.

This episode explores the public perception problem of recycled wastewater for drinking, known as the 'yuck factor,' through a science experiment and expert insights.

This episode explores the increasing salinity of freshwater sources worldwide, focusing on road salt as a major contributor.

This episode explores aquifers, focusing on the Ogallala Aquifer's depletion and its impact on a Kansas farmer.

This episode explores global water shortages and the UN's declaration of a new era of water banning, featuring an interview with a water expert.

A bi-weekly science news roundup covering the social lives of sharks, rapid evolution of wildflowers, and counterintuitive bird grooming behavior.

A dietitian and doctor discuss RFK Jr's new inverted food pyramid and its potential impact on school lunch programs, based on a tour of an elementary school kitchen.

This episode reports on the aftermath of U.S.

Hosts discuss the social stigma around enjoying romance fantasy novels and explore the psychology of guilty pleasures with a pleasure activist.

A science podcast episode explaining the formation of lake stars in ice and their connection to studying water on Jupiter's moon Europa.

This episode of Shortwave investigates why gray whales, once nearly hunted to extinction and then successfully recovered, are dying by the hundreds again since 2019.

This episode explores the history and science behind research on homosexuality, including its roots in eugenics and the dangers faced by queer subjects.

This episode explores a new method for estimating dinosaur age by studying growth rings in crocodiles and birds.

A science news roundup covering teen sleep deprivation, a potential mega-thrust earthquake, and ancient recipes from prehistoric pottery.

NPR's Gabriela Emanuel discusses how U.S.

A science journalist explores the viral story of a baby snow monkey named Punch, consulting a primate scientist to explain the animal's behavior and social hierarchy.

This episode explores tinnitus, a condition where people hear persistent ringing or sounds in their ears without an external source, through personal stories and scientific inquiry.

This episode explores the remarkable cognitive abilities of Kanzi the bonobo, focusing on a groundbreaking experiment testing imagination in non-human animals.

Science correspondent Nate Rott and freelance reporter Ari Daniel discuss a remarkable HIV vaccine research project based on 20 years of blood samples from South African women.

This episode explores how artificial intelligence is moving into the physical world through humanoid robots, examining the promises and realities of AI-powered robotics.

Hosts take listeners on a night hike to explore the hidden sounds and life of a winter forest, focusing on fungi, bioluminescence, and nocturnal animals.